Jan. 9, 1788: Connecticut Becomes A State

Hartford Courant

On Jan. 9, 1788, after more than five days of debate and discussion, Connecticut ratified the constitution and became the fifth state in the union. The Courant published a letter from Gov. Samuel Huntington to President George Washington that said, in part: "This is a new event in the history of mankind. Heretofore, most governments have been formed by tyrants and imposed on mankind by force. Never before did a people, in time of peace and tranquility, meet together by their representatives and, with calm deliberation, frame for themselves a system of government. This noble attempt does honor to our country." Click here to see a full-page PDF of the Courant coverage.

On Jan. 9, 1788, after more than five days of debate and discussion, Connecticut ratified the constitution and became the fifth state in the union. The Courant published a letter from Gov. Samuel Huntington to President George Washington that said, in part: "This is a new event in the history of mankind. Heretofore, most governments have been formed by tyrants and imposed on mankind by force. Never before did a people, in time of peace and tranquility, meet together by their representatives and, with calm deliberation, frame for themselves a system of government. This noble attempt does honor to our country." Click here to see a full-page PDF of the Courant coverage. (Hartford Courant)

On Jan. 9, 1788, after more than five days of debate and discussion, Connecticut ratified the constitution and became the fifth state in the union. The Courant published a letter from Gov. Samuel Huntington to President George Washington that said, in part: "This is a new event in the history of mankind. Heretofore, most governments have been formed by tyrants and imposed on mankind by force. Never before did a people, in time of peace and tranquility, meet together by their representatives and, with calm deliberation, frame for themselves a system of government. This noble attempt does honor to our country." Click here to see a full-page PDF of the Courant coverage.